Sightings of the famous Scottish monster are down lately — only two sightings this year so far and three in 2006. Ten years ago sightings were in the double digits and residents fear that fewer Nessie sightings could mean fewer tourist dollars. Nessie has been a key tourism draw, bringing an estimated 6 million pounds a year into the Scottish Highlands.

The Loch Ness Monster Fan Club runs four web cams on the North Shore of Loch Ness, hoping to record a glimpse Nessie. There have been more than 4,000 purported sightings, and lots of speculation as to what the creature might be. Some believe Nessie is an unknown species while others speculate that it could be a sturgeon, or even a last surviving dinosaur.